Dominic Collis

Junior doctors from Burnley General Hospital’s Lancashire Women and Newborn Centre joined colleagues across the country in striking this week.

The junior medics, working primarily in obstetrics and gynaecology, said their walkout had been forced on them by “unfair” and “unsafe” proposed changes to working shift patterns.

Junior doctors on strike outside Burnley General Hospital

The first all-out doctors’ strike in the history of the NHS saw doctors walk out of routine and emergency care from 8am to 5pm in a dispute over working hours and pay, as well as payments for working on Saturdays.

Dr Lucy Higgins (33), who joined colleagues in a picket line in Briercliffe Road, said: “This contract will not help us to keep our patients safe. It won’t deal with the so-called ‘weekend effect’ either.

“Spreading teams of doctors won’t reduce the weekend effect, it will just spread the problem elsewhere.

“The proposed shift patterns will effectively mean junior doctors working with jet-lag which is unsafe.

This is not about Saturday pay, but about valuing staff, protecting patients and ensuring the longevity of the NHS.

Dr Janette Mill

“Our strike is working on the principle of do no harm. It is like surgery in that the operation is fighting against an illness that needs treatment.”